^^i 


^tinU  l^ifoion  ass  C)^Attf|ittot^e^ 

S^Teltt  JFt^anr^t  niAlve  to  t)^e 
CoAisi  of  iilalne^ 


Si  des  pilotes  vieux  le  renom  dure  encore, 

Pour  avoir  sceu  voguer  sur  vne  ^troite  mer, 

Si  le  monde  k  present  daigne  encore  estimer 

Ariomene,  avec  Palinure  &  Pelore : 

Cast  raison  (Champ-do re)  que  notre  age  t'honore, 

Qui  sgais  par  ta  vertu  te  faire  renommer, 

Quand  ta  dexterity  empeche  d'abimer 

La  nef  qui  va  80uz  toy  du  Ponant  k  I'Aurore. 

Ceux-la  du  grand  Neptune  oncques  la  majestd. 

Ne  virent,  ni  le  fond  du  son  puissant  Empire : 

Mais  dessus  I'Ocean  journellement  porte 

Tu  fais  voir  aux  Fragois  des  pais  tout  nouveaux, 

Afin  que  I'k  vn  iour  maint  peuple  se  retire 

Faisant  les  flots  gemir  souz  ses  ailez  vaisseaux. 


Bv  B.  F.  De  COSTA. 


*   • 


ALBANY: 
JOEL  MUNSELL'S  SONS. 
1891. 


4^. 


[Reprinted  from  the  New-England  Historical  and  Genealogical  Register  for  April,  1891.] 


•  •  > 

•  •  •  • ' 


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•  •  • 

•  .*  • 
•••  . 


• , /•, 

•  •  ••       *  m 

•  t  «  •       •    •      « 


•  •  '• 


14  • 


DAVID  Clapf  &  Son.  Printers,  Boston. 


CHAMPDORE  m  NEW  ENGLAND,  1608. 


Pierre  Angibaut,  called  "Champdor6,"  has  hitherto  been 
known  simply  as  a  pilot  in  the  service  of  De  Mont,  and  not  as 
an  actual  leader  of  an  independent  expedition.  Nevertheless;  in 
1608,  Champlain's  former  associate  brought  out  a  company  of  colo- 
nists to  'New  France,  and  sailed  down  the  Maine  coast  as  far  as 
ISaco.  This  expedition  has  escaped  treatment,  for  the  reason  that 
the  statements  concerning  it  have  appeared  confused,  if  not  con- 
tradictory. It  has  been  taken  for  granted,  that  the  efforts  of  the 
French,  after  the  desertion  of  Port  Koyal,  in  1607,  were  suspended 
until  1610.  This,  however,  will  appear  to  be  a  mistake,  as 
Lescarbot,  in  his  edition  of  1609,  gives  an  account  of  an  expedition 
that  evidently  went  out  in  1608.  It  is  true  that,  in  the  autumn  of 
that  year,  the  Jesuit  father,  Biard,  went  to  Bordeaux  for  the  purpose 
of  joining  an  expedition  which  he  understood  was  to  have  been 
fitted  out  by  Poutrincourt,  but  upon  his  arrival  he  could  learn 
nothing  about  it.  Poutrincourt  had  indeed  promised  the  King  to 
undc.take  the  work  again  that  year,  yet  he  made  no  movement  until 
1610.  In  the  meanwhile,  however,  an  expedition  was  sent  by  De 
Mont,  who  had  secured  a  grant  giving  him  the  monopoly  of  the  fur 
trade  for  one  year.  Biard  probably  knew  nothing  of  this  expedition, 
though  he  understood  that  a  movement  was  in  progress.  Besides, 
the  members  of  his  Order  were  not  wanted  in  the  colony,  and  it  was 
not  until  1611  that  Biard  succeeded  in  getting  out  to  Port  Royal, 
notwithstanding  the  influence  of  the  King  and  Queen  was  thrown 
in  his  favor.*  From  our  general  knowledge  of  the  subject,  it  might 
be  concluded  that  De  Mont  allowed  the  Jesuits  to  suppose  that  the 
expedition  was  to  leave  Bordeaux  at  the  end  of  1608,  in  order  to  be 
well  rid  of  them,  while  at  the  time  arranging  to  sail  from  St.  Malo. 

*  On  this  question,  see  Relations  des  Jisuites,  Vol.  I.  p.  25;  Siiea's  "  Chnrlevoix,"  Vol. 
I.  p.  260;  and  Parktnau's  ''Pioneers,"  Chapters  V.  and  VI.  The  Huguenots  fought  the 
Jesuits  to  the  last. 


*,  1 


The  same  year,  under  the  same  monopoly,  De  Mont  sent  Cham- 
plain  with  two  vessels  to  Canada.  It  is  possible  that  the  expedition 
of  Champdor6  was  authorized  in  consideration  of  receiving  a  portion 
of  the  profits. 

But,  before  speaking  of  the  voyage,  it  will  be  necessary  to  state 
what  is  known  concerning  Pierre  Angibout,  as  in  the  future  he  must 
take  rank  with  the  worthies,  who,  amidst  perils  and  privations, 
labored  to  achieve  the  conquest  of  the  wilderness  of  New  England. 

In  Champlain's  narrative,  Champdor6  is  traduced  and  denied  his 
proper  place,  owing  clearly  to  the  jealousy  excited  by  his  merits. 
Champlain  says  that  he  was  a  good  carpenter ;  but  he  must  have 
been  something  more,  in  order  to  hold  his  place  as  pilot  and  navigator 
for  a  period  of  three  years,  and  to  be  entrusted  with  an  independent 
expedition  in  the  fourth.  Champlain,  pei-juips,  felt  that  his  appoint- 
ment, after  a  long  trial,  to  this  responsible  post,  formed  a  sarcasm 
upon  his  attempts  to  cheapen  Cbampdorti's  merits,  and  he  does  not 
allude  either  to  his  appointment  or  his  voyage.  Lescarbot,  however, 
recognizes  Champdor^'s  services,  also  addressing  a  sonnet  to  him, 
as  l*ierre  Angibnut  dit  Champ-dore  Gapitaine  de  Marine  en  la 
Mbuvelle  France.* 

In  describing  the  buildings  at  St.  Croix,  Lescarbot  speaks  of  the 
abodes  of  "  Sires  d'Orville,  Chaplain,  Charapdor6,  and  other 
notable  personages."  Again,  in  speaking  of  those  whom  De  Mont 
left  behind  at  Port  Royal  to  pass  the  winter  of  1605-6,  he  mentions 
Monsieur  Champlain  and  Monsieur  Chainpdor6,  the  one  for 
geography  and  the  other  for  the  conducting  and  guiding  the 
voyages,  f 

The  position  of  Champdord  while  attached  to  the  colony  was 
clearly  defined  ;  and  though  at  times  the  geographer  was  obliged  to 
recognize  the  pilot's  capacity,  he  nevertheless  seeks  every  occasion 
to  detract  from  his  merit,  and  to  set  down  every  disaster  to  his  credit. 
At  the  instance  of  Poutrincourt,  Champdore  was  on  one  occasion 
placed  under  arrest,  having  been  charged  with  the  wilful  destruction 
of  the  shallop,  which,  in  1606,  unfortunately  struck  upon  the  rocks 
at  Port  Royal,  though  they  were  glad  to  release  him  and  secure  the 
benefit  of  his  skill. | 

Champlain  vents  his  spleen  in  paragraphs  like  this  :  "  We  came 
near  being  wrecked  on  a  rocky  islet,  on  account  of  Champdor^'s 
usual  obstinacy." 

Lescarbot  was  probably  indebted  to  Champdor6  for  portions  of 
the  material  used  in  describing  the  voyages  of  1604,  '5  and  '6,  as  he 
did  not  go  in  person  further  south  than  Grand  Menan.  On  more 
than  one  occasion  he  refers  to  Champdore  as  an  informant. 

The  voyage  of  Champdore  is  mentioned  in  three  editions  of  Les- 

*  Les  Muses  de  la  Nouvelle  France,  p.  42. 

t  Histoire  de  la  Nouvelle  France,  Ed.  1612,  p.  476.    Ibid.  Ed.  1609. 

j  Chnmplaln's  "  (Euvres,"  Ed.  Quebec,  Vol.  I.  pp.  84-86. 


carbot's  Kouvelle  France  ^  though  the  edition  of  1609  forms  the 
real  authority.*  The  succeeding  editions  omit  that  part  of  the 
narrrative  found  in  chapter  iv.  of  the  edition  of  1609,  evidently  to 
avoid  going  over  the  same  subject  twice.  The  portion  omitted  in 
the  two  succeeding  editions  is  very  interesting. 

Lescarbot  says,  first,  that  the  colonists,  returning  to  France  in  the 
autumn  of  1607,  brought  samples  of  the  products  of  the  country, 
such  as  corn,  wheat,  rye  and  barley,  and  presented  them  to  the 
King.  Poutrincourt,  as  a  special  offering,  presented  some  tame 
"Outards,"  or  geese,  which  he  had  "taken  from  the  shell."  They 
pleased  the  King,  and  were  at  once  domiciled  in  the  beautiful  ponds 
of  Fontainbleu.  The  reports  made  appear  to  have  encouraged  his 
Majesty  ;  and  Lescarbot  is  correct  in  saying  that  at  this  time,  "upon 
a  fair  exhibition  of  the  fruits  of  the  said  country,  the  King  confirmed 
to  Monsieur  De  Mont  the  privilege  for  the  trade  in  beavers  with  the 
savages,"!  and  that  this,  in  connection  with  the  general  encourage- 
ment which  the  prospect  afforded,  led  to  the  attempt  in  1608. 
Lescarbot  states  that  the  King  acted  with  direct  reference  to  the  estab- 
lishment  of  colonies,  and,  writing  in  1609,  says  :  "By  this  occasion 
he  [De  Mont]  sent  thither  in  March  last  families  to  begin  the  Chris- 
tian and  French  Commonwealth  there,  which  God  grant  to  bless  in 


increase." 


The  statement  that  '^  families  "  were  sent  out  is  very  significant, 
showing  that  the  French  saw  distinctly  the  true  policy  to  be  pur- 
sued, and  that  they  entertained  the  project  of  permanent  homes. 
Of  the  experience  of  these  "families"  we,  at  present,  have  no 
particular  knowledge.  Nevertheless  a  glimpse  is  given  of  the  con- 
dition of  Acadia  after  the  terrible  winter  which  had  frozen  the  spirits 
of  Popham's  men,  but  which  the  French  happily  escaped.  They 
found  the  grain  which  had  been  sown  the  previous  year  in  a  flour- 
ishing condition,  and  the  faithful  old  savage,  Membertou,  with  his 
dusky  followers,  ready  to  extend  a  cordial  welcome.  It  is  not  clear, 
however,  that  Champdor6  and  his  colonists  remained  in  New  France 
during  the  winter  of  1608-9.  Perhaps  the  account  of  the  severity 
of  the  previous  winter  dampened  their  ardor  and  hastened  their  re- 
turn, notwithstanding  they  had  brought  out  what  are  called 
"families." 

*  The  Edition  of  1612  (p.  459)  mentions  the  voyage  and  the  exploration  of  the  St.  John's 
River.  In  the  heading  of  L.  IV.  C.  xix.  (p.  603)  is  the  following :  Voyage  en  la  Nouvelle 
France,  depuis  le  retour  dti  dit  Sieur  PotUnncourt.  In  dropping  the  i)art  of  the  narrative  to 
which  this  refers,  Lescarbot  forgot  to  erase  this  reference  to  it.  The  edition  of  1618  possesses 
the  same  features,  though  C.  iv.  takes  the  place  of  C.  xix.  Tlie  first  edition  of  Lescarbot's 
work  was  published  in  1609.  Editions  followed  in  1611,  1612  and  16)8.  Lc  Long  refers  to 
an  edition  of  1617.  See  Biblioth'eque  Historique,  Vol.  III.  No.  39,654.  A  letter  attributed 
to  Lescarbot  by  M.  Gabriel  Marcel,  of  the  geographical  section  of  the  Bibliotheque  Na- 
tionale,  Paris,  has  been  published  by  that  writer,  with  notes.  Paris,  1885.  It  was  written 
at  Port  Royal,  Aug.  22,  1606,  and  is  of  interest.  Lescarbot  was  born  about  the  year 
1666-70,  and  died  about  1630. 

t  It  is  clear  that  the  privilege,  which  was  for  one  year  only,  had  no  special  application 
to  the  territory  ceded  to  Poutrincourt.  The  Patent  to  De  Moiit  covered  all  of  New  France. 
See  Patent  in  Champlain's  (Euvrea,  Vol.  1.  p.  136. 


■"'6 

Lesoarbot  mentions  Champdor^'s  return,  and  says  : 

"  The  said  ship,  being  returned,  we  have  had  report  by  Monsieur  de 
Champdor^,  and  others,  of  the  condition  of  the  country  we  had  left,  and 
of  the  wonderful  beauty  of  the  corn  that  the  said  Monsieur  de  Poutrincourt 
had  sown  before  his  departure,  together  with  the  grains  that  have  fallen  in 
the  gardens  which  have  grown  incredibly.  Memberton  gathered  six  or 
seven  barrels  of  the  corn  that  we  had  sown,  and  still  had  one  left,  which 
he  reserved  for  the  French  whom  he  expected.  When  it  was  charged  that 
he  had  eaten  our  pigeons  which  we  had  left  there,  he  fell  to  weeping,  and 
embracing  him  that  told  him,  said  it  was  the  Macharoa,  that  is,  the  great 
birds  called  Eagles,  which  eat  many  of  them  while  we  were  there.  Besides 
all  great  and  small  inquired  how  we  were,  naming  each  by  his  own  name, 
which  is  a  proof  of  great  love." 

On  other  points  Lescarbot  gives  interesting  information,  and  says 
that  Champdor6  extended  his  observation  as  far  as  Saco,  or 
"  Chouakouet."    He  also  visited  the  Saint  John  Kiver.     He  says  : 

*'  This  river  is  one  of  the  fairest  that  may  be  seen,  having  many  islands 
and  abounding  in  fish.  This  last  year,  1608,  the  said  Monsieur  de  Champ- 
dor^,  with  one  of  the  said  De  Mont's  men,  has  been  some  fifty  leagues  up 
the  said  river,  and  testify  that  there  is  a  great  quantity  of  vines  along  the 
shore,  though  the  grapes  are  not  so  large  as  in  the  country  of  Armou- 
chiquois.  There  are  also  onions  and  many  other  good  herbs.  As  regards 
the  trees,  they  are  the  finest  to  be  seen.  When  we  were  there  we  saw  a 
great  nuijber  of  cedar  trees.  In  regard  to  the  fish  Champdor^  has  told  us, 
that,  putting  the  kettle  over  the  fire,  they  had  taken  fish  enough  for  dinner 
before  the  water  was  hot.  Besides,  this  river,  stretching  as  it  does  far 
within  the  land  of  the  savages,  greatly  shortens  the  long  journeys." 

The  modern  tourist  who  ascends  this  stream  will  justify  Champ- 
dorr's  praise. 

Champdor6  then  descended  the  river,  and  sailed  southward,  visit- 
ing for  the  fourth  time  the  wild  coast  of  Maine.     Lescarbot  writes  : 

"  The  said  Champdore  went  as  far  as  Chouakouet,  the  beginning  of  the 
Armouchiquois  land,  where  he  reconciled  that  tribe  with  the  Etechemins, 
which  was  not  done  without  solemnity.  For  as  he  began  to  speak  of  it  the 
captive,  named  Asticou,  who  is  now  in  the  place  of  Olmechin,*  a  grave  man 
of  goodly  presence,  howsoever  savage  he  may  be,  demanded  that  some  one 
of  the  Etcchenims  should  be  sent  to  him,  and  that  he  would  treat  with  him. 
Oagimout,  Sagamore  of  the  St.  Croix  River,  was  selected  for  that  purpose, 
though  he  would  not  trust  them ;  but  under  the  safe  conduct  of  the  French, 
he  went  thither.  Some  presents  were  made  to  Asticou,  who,  upon  the 
speech  of  peace,  began  to  exhort  his  people  and  to  show  them  the  reasons 
which  should  induce  them  to  listen  to  it.  Whereupon  they  agreed,  making 
an  assent  to  each  article  proposed  to  them.  Some  five  yearst  ago  Monsieur 
de  Mont  had  also  arranged  a  peace  between  those  people,  and  declared 
unto  them  that  he  would  be  the  enemy  to  the  first  one  that  should  com- 
mence war,  and  would  pursue  him.     But  after  his  return  into  France  they 

*  This  appears  to  be  an  error.  Asticou  was  a  Fenobscot  chief,  and  appears  to  have  suc- 
ceeded Bastiaba. 

t  He  should  have  said  three  years,  as  the  peace  referred  to  was  made  in  1608.  It  was  a 
poor  peace  at  the  best.  See  Champliiin,  Vol.  I.  p.  93,  and  Lescarbot,  Ed.  1612,  p.  560. 
For  the  names  of  various  chiefs,  see  Champlaiu,  Vol.  I.  p.  126. 


conld  not  maintain  the  peace.  And  the  Armonchiquois  killed  a  Sourequois 
savage  named  Panoniac,  who  went  to  them  in  order  to  trade  in  merchan- 
dise, which  he  obtained  at  the  store  house  of  the  said  de  Mont.  The  war 
above  mentioned  broke  out  on  account  of  this  murder,  under  the  leadership 
of  Sagamore  Membertou ;  the  said  war  was  carried  on  in  the  same  place 
now  mentioned  where  Monsieur  de  Champdor«i  treated  the  peace  in  this 
year.  Monsieur  Champlain  is  in  another  place,  that  is,  in  the  great  River 
of  Canada,  near  the  place  where  Captain  Jaques  Cartior  wintered,  where 
he  has  fortified  himself." 

In  closing,  Lescarbot  says  : 

"  As  regards  Monsieur  de  Poutrincourt,  his  desire  is  unchangeable  to 
colonize  and  build  up  his  Province,  to  bring  thither  his  family,  and  all  kinds 
of  trades  necessary  for  the  existence  of  man ;  which,  with  God's  help,  he 
will  continue  to  do,  throughout  the  present  year,  1609;*  and  as  long  as  he 
has  health  and  strength,  will  prosecute  the  same,  to  live  there  under  the 
King's  obedience." 

It  is  perhaps  due  to  Champdor^,  in  the  absence  of  the  details  of 
his  life,  that  we  should  give  the  Sonnet  which  Lescarbot  wrote  in 
his  p»aise ;  especially  as  it  forms  an  offset  to  the  envious  criticism  of 
Champlain,  who,  as  the  geographer,  found  a  rival  in  Champdor6 
the  navigator.  Lescarbot,  the  witty  lawyer,  was  evidently  on  the 
best  of  terms  with  the  Pilot,  and  they  doubtless  enjoyed  together  good 
dinners  and  merry  evenings  in  Acadia,  when  Lescarbot  feasted 
royally,  after  the  fashion  of  his  brother  of  the  Bar,  Thomas  Morton, 
of  Merry  Mount,  wearing  the  Collar  of  the  Order  of  the  Bon  Temps. 
In  this  Sonnet  the  Parisian  Advocate  bestows  his  praise  with  the 
liberality  that  marked  Champlain's  blame ;  and  the  neglect  of  re- 
nowned characters  of  antiquity  is  somewhat  explained  by  the  devotion 
exhibited  to  the  overshadowing  renown  of  Pierre  Angibout. 

*  See  ante ;  this  fixes  the  date  of  Champdor^'s  voyage.    The  Sonnet  has  been  transferred 
to  the  title-page. 


This  article  was  written  some  fifteen  years  ago,  on  finding  that  Parkman  had  over- 
looked the  expedition  of  1608,  which  had  also  been  overlooked  by  every  author  of  whom 
the  writer  had  any  knowledge.  Subsequently,  Dr.  Slafter,  in  editing  the  Prince  Society's 
edition  of  Champlain's  work,  noted  the  fact  that  the  voyage  was  made.  It  is  time  for 
Champdor4  to  have  due  recognition. 


t  •  • 


•  «      ••   ••#• 


